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Too early to say if man charged in Vaughan crash will plead not guilty, lawyer says

Marco Muzzo remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Oct. 19 as mother and fiancée look on.

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A man charged in an alleged drunk driving crash that killed three children and their grandfather has been remanded in custody until his Oct. 19 bail hearing. Marco Muzzo's lawyer says it's too early to say how his client will plea.

Brian Greenspan made the comment to reporters following a court hearing in Newmarket, where he asked Justice of the Peace Philip Solomon to adjourn the bail hearing for Marco Muzzo until Oct. 19

Until then, Muzzo, 29, will remain in custody.

Muzzo is facing a number of impaired driving charges for the Sept. 27 crash that killed 9-year-old Daniel Neville-Lake, Harrison, 5, Millie, 2, and their 65-year-old grandfather Gary Neville.

“Marco is, first of all, devastated by the horrific loss of life and has expressed to me on numerous occasions his condolences and sympathy to the family,” Greenspan told reporters outside the court.

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Asked if Muzzo intends to plead not guilty, Greenspan said, “That’s premature. It’s not an appropriate question at this stage.”

Taryn Hampton leaves the Newmarket courthouse accompanied by private security guards after a brief court appearance Friday by her fiance, Marco Muzzo, who was charged with impaired driving causing death in a car crash that left three children and their grandfather dead. (Vince Talotta / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Dawn Muzzo leaves the Newmarket courthouse accompanied by private security guards and police after a brief court appearance Friday by her son, Marco Muzzo, who is charged with impaired driving causing death in a car crash that left three children and their grandfather dead. (Vince Talotta / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Defence lawyer Brian Greenspan speaks to reporters outside the Newmarket courthouse after a brief court appearance by his client, Marco Muzzo, who is charged with impaired driving causing death in a car crash that left three children and their grandfather dead. (Vince Talotta / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Marco Muzzo faces a dozen impaired-driving offences and six charges related to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after he allegedly crashed into a minivan carrying six members of a family last Sunday.

Greenspan said he is still waiting for disclosure from the Crown.

Muzzo’s bail hearing is now scheduled to occur on the same day as the federal election.

Greenspan said the Crown and defence had forgotten Oct. 19 was election day when they requested that date.

“We did it quite inadvertently,” he said. “It was purely inadvertent and not intentional.”

When Muzzo entered the prisoner's box in handcuffs in a black shirt and trimmed beard, he appeared much thinner than in Facebook photos.

He briefly glanced at his family in the front row, but mostly kept his eyes downcast and remained silent.

Members of his family, including his mother Dawn and fiancée Taryn Hampton, whom he was set to marry on Oct. 17, sat in the packed courtroom flanked by private security during the short court proceeding. Three court officers remained at the door.

Both women were stone-faced as they left the courthouse. Dawn Muzzo, showing no emotion, looked straight ahead as she was guided by court officers to a line of white SUVs, ignoring the swarm of reporters around her asking questions and taking photos.

“I can only say that I hope that he finds it within himself to plead guilty, that these lawyers that money is buying encourage him to do the right thing,” MADD York region chapter president Kathy Mitchell told reporters outside the courthouse.

“Going through the process for this family is probably going to take two and a half to three years and people shouldn’t have to relive it every time they have to come to court.”

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